The world may only know of your song because Michael Jackson and Rihanna (by proxy) ripped it off, but I know who you are. You were one of the people I gave tribute to in my song “Cameroonian Originality March”. You didn’t deserve this. Your family has my sincerest condolences.
This 2015 music video says about itself: Soul Makossa – Manu Dibango (Original) Soul Makossa meaning: “I will dance.” Translated from Dutch NOS radio today: Saxophonist and bandleader Manu Dibango has died from the effects of the coronavirus. The 86-year-old musician from Cameroon was best known for the worldwide hit Soul Makossa from 1972. The […]
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything on this blog.
Some of you may know that I’ve been getting more into African music and even more recently into movies made in that continent. Even though I’ve never been to Africa, I come from a multi-ethnic family and I did a DNA test where one of my results from my maternal side came up as Cameroonian among other ethnic groups in Africa and Europe. I decided to check out the music from that country and stumbled across Mr. Leo. I first heard the song “Pray” and found it touching given that country’s situation currently with the conflicts involving the French-speaking Cameroonians and the English-speaking ones where there have been fatalities. It saddens me how there have been divisions like that in this post-colonial landscape. Luckily, there are people in that country who hate the bloodshed and see each other as brothers and sisters despite what languages they speak. It certainly hit my heart because these people could be distant relatives of mine in some way. I hope you check out this song.
Part of the song is in Banso which is one of the local languages in that country. I found translated parts of that song which make it more heartbreaking knowing what everything means.
Amen chorus part:
Let us kneel down (Amen)
Let us keep praying that (Amen)
The day will soon be clear
Let us kneel down (Amen)
Let us keep praying that (Amen)
The day will soon be clear
Banso part of the 2nd verse:
If you are ignoring your brother
Beware, you are making a mistake
If you are chasing your brother away
Beware, you are making a mistake
Ospreyshire's Realm 